Ensilage-harvester.



C. C. GRAY.

ENSILAGE HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED IIIAYSI. IsIz.

Patented Feb. I9, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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c. c. GRAY. ENSILAGE HARVESTER.'

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31| |917.

Patented Feb. 19, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Patented Feb. 19, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Car/ C Gray.

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provide enano. GRAY, or wnranorrn'ra, eme.

ENSILAGE-HABVESTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.l Pgatmitd Fell). 1.9, 1.91.3..

Application led May 31, 1917. Serial No. 172,033.

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that 1, CARL C.. GnAY, a citizen o'f the United States., residing at Wapakoneta, in the county of Auglaize and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ensilage-Harvesters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an ensilage har` vester and particularly to a construction adapted to cutand feed the stalks to an ensilage cutter, substantially as broadly claimed in my Patent No. 1,121,998 dated December 22, 1914, and comprises a continuation in part of Amy application filed October 17, 1916, Serial No. 126,147, for a similar invention.

The invention has for an object to provide an improved pivotal connection between the fixed supporting frame of the tractor or vehicle carrying the ensilage cutter and they pivotally connected frame for the harvesting mechanism carrying a conveyer belt whereby the latter is adapted to adjust'itself to inequalities of the properly deliver the stalks to the cutter.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable f eed table by which material may be fed toward the conveyer belt to the ensilage cutter as delivered from the harvesting mechanism when said table is in a 'vertically inclined position, and also thereto independent of the harvesting mechanism when said table is in a substantially horizontal position.

The' invention also provides an improved construction of adjustable swinging feed roll adaptedl to coperate with the feed table whenl in one position or with the conveying belt when shifted.

Another obj ect of the invention is to provide toothed means for engaging the stalk butts at their delivery from the gatherer -chains by which the butts are turned toward the ensilage cutter as theyv are fed upon the conveyer belt.

A further object `of the invention is to an improved gearing connection between the cutting and feeding mechanisms by which their relative speed of travel may direction of movement of the feed roll at the ensilag'e cutter reversed when desired.

Other and further ob 'ects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the, appended claims.

ground and at all times ldriving gears ordinary connections,

In the drawings- Figure 1 is an end elevationof the inven-.

tion;

Fig. 2 is a top plan thereof; Fig. 3 is a section thereof, on line 3--3 Aof Fig. 2

Fig. 4 is a detail plan of the harvester frame;

Fig. 5 is frames;

Fig. 6 is a detail of the mounting for one of said frames;

Fig. 7 is a detail of the adjusting means for said frames;

Fig. 8 is a detail of one hinge of the side board of thefeed table;

-Fig. 9 is a detail perspective of lthe pivot for the conveyer belt frame;

Fig. 10 is a detail of the joint in the feed table brace;

Fig. 11 is a pivoted divider;

Fig. 12 is a top plan of the adjustable for the feed roll;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 14 is a detail of the beveled drive gear and shaft;

Fig. 15 is a detail of the changeable speed controlling worm wheel;

detail side elevation of the Fig. 16 is a detail edge view of two ofy these worm wheels, and

Fig. 17 is a detail planof the butt turn.- ing wheel. v

l Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The numeral 10 designates the tractor lor carrier frame which maybe of any desired construction and provided with the usual tractor wheels 11 and any desired form of motor 12. The tractor has rigidly secured thereto at its rear a cutter frame 13 upon which the members of any preferred form of ensilage cutter are mounted. These com-A prise generally the cutter cylinder 14 carried by the shaft 15 mounted in the frame 13 and the feed roll 16 upon shaft 17 similarly mounted. The cutting mechanism may be of any desired character anddriven by any for instance the motor shaft 18 is connected to a countershaft 19 bya belt 20. The shaft 19 is provided with a bevel gear 21 meshing with a similar gear 22 on shaft 23. The latter is provided with a sprocket 24 connected 'by chain 25 with a sprocket 26 on cutter shaft 15.

In order to vary the length of ensilage cut and reverse the direction of movement of the feed roll thereto an adjustable driving connection is provided between the roll and the cutter shaft. It will be seen the faster the rotation of the feed roll relativev this bracket permits its adjustment in anl arc, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 13, to compensate for the difference in size of the worm'wheels 106 used to effect different `relative speeds of rotation of the cutter and feed roll. As shown in Fig. 16 these changeable wheels are formed on a sleeve 113, the smaller size being located toward the end of shaft 108 and each successive larger size further inward thereon.

The beveledgear 109 is mounted to have a driving mesh with either bevel gear 114 or 115 secured at the opposite ends of a sleeve 116 suitably keyed to slide upon the end 117 of shaft 17.` 'This shifting for the reversal of the feed roll may be effected by a connection 118 from the sleeve to pivoted lever 119 upon a fixed part.

The xed frame 13 also supports a delivery conveyer 30 driven by shaft 31 carrying a sprocket 32 from which a chain 33 extends to a sprocket 27 on the cutter shaft 15. The harvester frame 35 is stance, bybearing plates 36 secured thereto at 37 and adapted to seat in pivoting sockcts38 and to receive the shaft 39. The bearing plates are secured in these sockets by' removable bearing blocks 40 which permit the ready detachment of the harvester frame, conveyer belt and parts mounted thereon.

The frame 35 has mounted thereon the :conveyer belt 41 which extends over and 'is driven by the shaft 39 at one end and by the shaft 42 at the opposite end. At the outer end of the conveyer belt an inclined feed table 43 is pivotally mounted and when in the vertical position shown in Fig. 1 is adapted to feed downward towardthe belt 41, but when in the substantially horizontal y upper arms 122 hinges 129 one member pivoted to the cutter Aframe 13 1n any desired manner, for inpivoted at 123 to the table. These. members are pivoted together at 124 and the arms formed with lateral stops 125 to support the parts when in vertical position, as shown in Fig. 10.

From the pivots 123 a supporting finger 126 extends at an angle to the arms 122 and is disposed to hold a side boardt127 in vertical position when the table is raised. This board extends beyond the delivery from the harvesting mechanism to direct and confine the stalks between the sides 128 above the conveyer 41. The boardy 127 is pivoted to the table to swing outward by means of the of which is formed With a supporting stop 130. It Will be seen that when the table is swung downward the finger 126 moves away from the board 127 permitting the latter to swing outward to' form a side feeding surface along the table which is supported in its horizontal position by the stops 125 at the lower en d of the arms 122. A i

Above the conveyer belt 41 a driven feed roller 44 is carried by swinging iarms 45 having supporting legs 28 resting upon the sides 128 when arranged in the full; line position of Fig. 1 so that the roller cdperates with the feed table and its side boa'rd to effect a contacting force feed of the stalks toward the belt and cutter. When in lthe dotted line position shown this feed roller is supported by its arms 45 resting on the sides 128 face of the conveyer belt 41 to reta' horizontally thereon during their feed t0- ward` the cutter.

This adjustmenti is particularly desirable for use when feeding independent of the harvesting mechanism.

The conveying members may be driven in any preferred manner, for example, the shaft 17, which is a continuation of shaft 117, is provided with a sprocket 46 having a chain 47 extending toa sprocket 48 on K shaft 39. This shaft also carries a sprocket 49 from which a chain 50 extends to a sprocket 51 on cross shaft 52. This chain also drives a sprocket 53 upon a stub-shaft carrying a gear 54 which meshes with a gear 55 upon a shaftv at the pivot of the arms 45, Fig. 3. This latter shaft carries a sprocket 131 from which a chain 132 extends to a sprocket 56 on the shaft 57 of the feed roller. lThe feed table may be driven from the shaft 42 by the sprocket 58 thereon from which a belt 59 extends to a sprocket and coperates with thln` upper 'stalks 60 upon the driving shaft 6l for the feed table.

The conveyer frame 35 is provided with an extension 62 for supporting the harvesting members. A tongue 63extends from the extension 62 and is pivotally connected at 64 with the tractor 10 by a depending hanger 66, so that the harvesting and conveying members are pivotally and detachaaaaas ably supported at one side of the tractor. For the purpose ofcarrying the weight of the extension and the parts supported thereon a traction wheel is provided.

rlhe harvester' frame 35 is provided with a shaft 67 upon which the depending frames 68 are pivoted for vertical adjustment as hereinafter described. These frames or arms 68 carry the parallel supporting frames 69 for the gathering chains 70, 71 and 72 and also the harvesting knives 73 operating in the space between the opposite chains. The inside members of the frames 68 have angular portions 7 4 (Figs. 4 and 5) which permit the location of the knives 7 3 at a sufficiently low level to cut the stalks so that the remaining stubs will not interfere with the passage of the harvester thereover. The general arrangement of the harvesting knives and gathering chains is shown in my prior Patent No. 1,121,998V lated December 22, 1914 and is not claimed herein. v

For the purpose of driving the gathering chains the shaft 52 is provided with a bevel gear 76 meshing with a coperating gear 77 on shaft 67. The latter shaft has beveled gears 78 meshing with gears 79 on the shafts 80 common to all of the gathering chains. The knives 73 are driven from a shaft 81 connected thereto by a pitman 82 from a crank 83 thereon and provided with a .gear 84 meshing with the gear 77. The shaft 81 is supported by bearings 85 carried by the frames 68. (Figs. 4 and 5.)

The harvester frame, gathering chains and knives are adjustable verticallyT by means of a shaft 86 having gears 87 meshing with racks 88 on the frame members 68. (Fig. 6). ,This shaft 86 is rotated and held by a worm shaft 89 having a worm 90 meshwith a coperating gear 91. (Fig. 7).

For the purpose of turning the butts of the stalks toward the ensilage cutter, a spiked or star wheel 92 is disposed'adjacent the base plate 93 between the gatherers. This wheel is driven by the shaft 94 over which the gathering chain 72 passes. Fig. 3.

At the lower end of the gathering members 68 dividing points 95 are pivoted to a plate 96 as shown at 97. These points are held in the full line position shown in Fig. 11 by means of springs 98 secured tothe members 68 at 99 and to the divider point at 100. ln the use of the tractor it is very essential to have the divider points yield when coming into Contact with a solid object upon the surface of the ground, such as roots, stones or the like. It will be noted that when the point 101 strikes such an 0bject in the forward movement of the machine it turns under and backward bringing the end 102 forward as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 11. This forms a runner to pass over any surface object without injury to the machine, and as soon as the point 102 be used for a force the spring 98 automatidivider point 101 to its initial position. Both of the curved points serve as runners, as when the lower point strikes a solid object the divider plate turns on its pivot and the upper curved point turns over the object and forms a runner until after the object is passed when the spring restores the parts. In lodged corn the points must be adjusted to travel along the ground in order to pick up fallen stalks and necessarily engage stones and roots upon the surface of the ground so that the importance of this pivoted construction is obvious.

1n the operation of the invention it will be seen that the corn stalks are cut by the harvesterand fed backward by the gathering chains and their butts turned toward the ensilage cutter. The feed table and roller form a force feed for the stalks upon the conveyer passes such object cally returns the belt with their butts in proper position to engage the cutter from which they' are discharged to the delivery conveyer. This table and roller are provided with improved means for supporting them in their shifted or adjusted positions and the former has pivoted at its outer edge a side board which acts when raised to assist in controlling the feed to the conveyer and when lowered forms a side feed to the table.

The tractor has rigidly mounted thereon the ensilage cutting. members while the feeding and harvesting members are pivotally connectedto the tractor which permits their automatic adjustment for irregularities of the ground and simplifies the driving connection by avoiding the use of universal joints. This f connection is adjustable or changeable to Aprovide for 'different relative speeds of the ensilage cutter and the harvesting and feeding members thereto so that diderent lengths of stalk may be eut for ensilage, as hereinbefore described, and is also formed with means by whichv the direction of travel of the feed roll to cutter may be reversed.

The harvester is adapted to be readily atl tached or detached from the tractor and ensilag'e cutter and either of these members used independently when desired. rl`his is facilitated by the removable bearing shown which avoids the necessity of removing the bearing shaft upon which the harvester members are pivoted. The feed roller may feed in connection with the vertically inclined table, or disposed to coperate with the upper face of the conveyer belt to hold the stalks in position thereon. The adjusting means for the gatherers and harvester knives presents a simple and eliicient construction by'which they may be adjusted and held in position so that the divider plates and other parts will -be in proper relation to the ground. The adjustframe able 'feed table when vertically inclined atone side of the harvester delivery acts as a force feed when the harvester is used, and when substantially horizontal forms an independent feeding table .for the c onveyer leading to the ensilage cutter.

The term tractor as used herein is intended to coverany form of vehicle which may support or transmit power for driving the operative parts hereinbefore described. Any desired construction of harvester, conveyers, and ensilage cutter may be used, as the invention herein relates to the novel construction of the connections between these' parts, their adjustment, specific construction and operative combination.

What I claim is l. In an ensilage harvester, a tractor, a cutter frame rigidly secured thereto, an ensilage cutter supported upon said frame, a harvester frame freely pivoted to said cutter frame to adjust itself to uneven surfaces of the ground, a conveying belt upon said harvester frame in alinement with said cutter and delivering thereto at the pivot between said frames during the pivotal .movement of the harvester frame relative to said cutter, and harvesting means upon the harvester lfrzitmelconstructed to deliver stalks upon saidy e t. Y f

2. In an ensilage harvester, a tractor, a cutter frame rigidly secured thereto, an ensilage cutter supported upon said frame, a,Y

harvester frame freely pivoted to said cutter frame, a conveying belt upon said harvester frame delivering to the ensilage cutter and movable upon said pivot in the pivotal movement of the harvester frame, harvesting means upon said harvester frame, means for delivering material therefrom to said belt, and a feed table disposed at one end of said belt adjacent said delivery means and inclined from the vertical.

3. In an ensilage harvester. a tractor, a cutter frame rigidly secured t creto, an ensilage cutter supported upon said frame, a harvester frame freely pivoted to said cutter frame, a conveying belt upon said harvester delivering to the ensilage cutter and movable upon said pivot in the pivotal movement of the harvester frame, harvesting means upon said harvester frame, means for deliveringl material therefrom to said belt, a feed table disposed at one end of said belt adjacent said delivery means and inclined from the vertical, and a driven feed rollen carried by pivoted arms and cooperating with said feed table to eEect a' force feed.

4. In an ensilage harvester, a tractor, an ensilage cutter supported thereon, a harvester frame connected to said tractor, a conveying belt upon said frame delivering to said ensilage cutter, harvesting mechanism carried by said frame and having means for feeding stalks to said belt, an inclined feed Lacasse table at one end of said belt, and a driven feed roller mounted upon pivoted arms and shiftable to coperate with the upper face of said belt or said feed table.

5. In an ensilage harvester, a tractor, an ensilagel cutter supported thereon, a harvester frame connected to said tractor, a conveying belt upon said frame delivering to said ensilage cutter, harvesting mechanism carried by said frame and having means for feeding stalks to said belt, and a feed table disposed at the end of said belt where stalks are delivered thereto from said feeding means and movable from a position inclined from the vertical, for receiving from said feeding means, to afsubstantially horizontal position to feed directly to said belt independent of the harvesting mechanism.

6. In an ensilage harvester, a tractor, a cutter frame secured thereto, an ensilage cutter supported upon said frame, a -harvester frame connected to said cutter frame and provided with a conveying belt delivering to said ensilage cutter, harvesting cutters, gathering means coperating therewith and delivering to said belt, and means independent of l the gathering means and belt for forcibly enfA gaging and turning the stalk butts the ensilage cutter as they are delivered to said belt.

7. In an ensilage harvester, a tractor, a cutter frame secured thereon, an ensilage cuttersupported upon said frame, a harvester frame connected to said cutter frame and provided with a conveying belt delivering to said ensilage cutter, harvesting cutters, gathering means coperating therewith and delivering to said belt, and a toothed wheel disposed at the delivery end of said gatherers for forcibly turning the stalk butts toward the ensilage cutter as they are delivered to said belt.

8. In van ensilage harvester, a tractor, an ensilage cutter supported thereby', a har-- vester frame connected to said tractor and provided with a conveying belt delivering to said cutter, harvesting means upon said frame, means for delivering stalks to said 'belt from said harvesting means,v a traveling feed table inclined fromthe vertical and disposed at one end of said belt adjacent the toward stalk delivery thereto and shiftable into a ist ' ing with said pinions,

vester frame pivoted ensilage cutter.

intacts delivery from said means to turn the stalk butts toward the ensilage cutter, a traveling feed table at one end of said belt inclined from the vertical, a driven feed roller cooperating with said table to engage said stalks, and a delivery conveyer from said 10. In an ensilage harvester, a tractor, an ensilage cutter mounted thereon, a harvester frame connected to said tractor, a conveying belt thereon delivering to said ensilage cutter, parallel frames pivoted upon said harvester frame for supporting harvesting cutters and means delivering therefrom to said belt, a fixed' shaft` provided with pinions thereon, racks on said parallel frames meshi a Worm gear on said shaft, and an operating shaft having a worm coperating with ,saidy gear.

11.' In an ensilage harvester, a tractor,an ensilage cutter mounted thereon, a harvester frame connected to said tractor, a conveying belt thereon delivering to said ensilage cutter, parallel frames pivoted upon said harvester ,frame and having angular portions intermediate their ends`,la harvesting cutter mounted at' the lower part of -said portions, and means for vertically adjusting said parallel frames.

1Q. In an ensilage harvester, a tractor, an ensilage cutter mounted thereon, a motor on said tractor having a connection for driving the cutter, a harvesting frame freely pivoted to the frame of said cutter adjacent thereto for movement upon its pivot relative to the cutter, a conveying belt mounted upon said frame in alinement with and disposed to deliver to said ensilage cutter, a driving shaft for said belt disposed at the pivotal connection of the harvester frame and having a driving connection with the shaft of said cutter, and a harvesting mechanism constructed to deliver stalks to said belt.

13. In an ensilage harvester, atractor, an ensilage cutter mountedthereon, a motor on said tractor having a connection for driving the cutter, a feed roller for said cutter having a driving connection therewith, a harvester frame pivoted to the frame of said cutter, a conveying belt mounted upon the frame of saidharvester to deliver to said ensilage cutter, a driving shaft for said belt having a connection with the shaft of said feed roller, a harvesting mechanism upon said harvester frame, a cross shaft having a connection from the belt driving shaft for said mechanism, a shiftable feed table, and a connection from` said belt arranged to drive said table toward the belt.

14. In an ensilage harvester, a tractor, an ensilage cutter mounted thereon, a motor on said tractor having a connection for driving the cutter, a feed roller for said cutter .having a driving connection therewith, a harto the frame of said inclined cutter, a conveying 1nelt mounted upon said fraxneof the harvester to deliver to said ensilage cutter, a driving shaft for said belt having a connection with the shaft of said feed roller, a harvesting mechanism upon said frame, a crossshaft having a connection from the belt driving shaft for said mechanism, a rotatable feed roller mounted above said belt and driven by a connectiontherefrom, a shiftable feed table, and a connection from said belt arranged to drive the table toward the belt.

15. In an ensilage harvester, frames mounted thereon and provided with opposite gathering means, cooperating harvesting means, a divider plate pivoted intermediate its ends at the lower end of one of having a plurality of runner surfaces, and a springfor normally retaining said plate in one position.

16. In an ensilage harvester, frames mounted. thereon and provided with opposite parallel gathering chains, a harvesting cutter intermediate thereof, and divider plates pivoted at a point'intermediate their ends'and shaped so that either end of said plates may act as a runner.

17. In an ensilage harvester, ed thereon and provided with opposite gathering means, coperating harvesting means, a divider plate pivoted intermediate its ends at the lower end of, one of said frames and having oppositely curved ends providing a 4plurality of runner faces, necting said plate and frame for yieldingly retaining the former in one position.

said frames and frames mountand a, spring conl 18. vIn an ensilage harvester, an ensilage belt, a feed table disposed at the harvester delivery and shiftable from a vertically in-l and a pivoted clined to a horizontal position,

edge of said side board at the outer side table.

19. In an ensilage harvester, an ensilage cutter, a conveying belt for feeding thereto, p

a harvesting mechanism delivering to said belt, a feed table disposed adjacent the harvester delivery and shiftable from a vertically inclined to a 'horizontal position, a -pivoted side board at the outer edge of said table, and a shiftable -feed roller disposed to coperate with said table and board when or with said belt when the table is horizontal.

\-\ 20.., In an ensilage harvester, yan ensilage cdtter, a conveying belt for feed thereto, a harvesting mechanism delivering to said belt, a feed table disposed adjacent the harvester delivery and shiftable from a vertically inclined positionk tion, a pivoted side board at the outer edge of said table, and means to support said table arranged to retain or Arelease said side board.

to a horizontal p'osi- 1 21. In an ensilage harvester, an ensilage cutter, a conveying belt for feeding thereto,

'a harvesting mechanism delivering to said belt, a feed table disposed adjacent the harvester delivery and shiftable from a vertically inclined position to a horizontal position, a pivoted side board at the outer edge of said table, and a jointed brace pivoted to said table and the harvester frame and arranged to support the tablein either position. v

22. In an ensilage harvester, an ensilage cutter, a conveyin belt for feeding thereto, a harvesting mec anism delivering to said belt, a feed table disposed adjacent the harvester delivery and shiftable from a vertically inclined position to a horizontal position, a pivoted -side board at the outer edge of said table, a jointed brace arranged to support the table in either position, and an arm from the pivot of said brace upon the table to engage said board when the table is inclined.

23. In an ensilage harvester, an ensilage cutter, a conveyin belt for feeding thereto, a harvesting mec anism delivering to said belt, a feed table disposed adjacent the harvester delivery and shiftable from a vertically inclined position to a horizontal position, a pivoted side board at the outer edge of said table, a brace disposed to support said table in either position comprising two members pivoted together and to the table and harvester frame, and a stop carried by one member at their pivot'together and disposed to engage the othermember adjacent the point of its pivotal connection with the other member, and disposed to engage the latter. 24. In an ensilage harvester, an ensilage cutter, a conveyin belt for feeding thereto, a harvesting meclanism delivering to said belt, a feed table disposed adjacent 'the harvester delivery and shiftable from a vertically inclined position to a horizontal position, a pivoted side board at they outer edge of said table arranged to swing outward to form a feeding surface, a brace to support said table in either position comprising two members pivoted together and to the table and harvester frame, and an anglearm carried by the brace at its table pivot and disposed to engage saidboard when the table is inclined.

lcent the feed table,

-a harvesting 25. In an ensilage harvester, an ensilage cutter, a conveying belt for feeding thereto, a harvesting mechanism delivering to said belt, a feed roller carried by pivoted arms and disposed above said belt, an inclined feed table adjacent the harvester delivery, and means upon said arms to rest upon the sides of the belt frame when the roller is in position adjacent the feed tablel 26. In an ensilage harvester, an ensilage cutter, a conveying belt for feeding thereto, a harvesting mechanism delivering to said belt, a shiftable feed roller carried by pivoted arms above said belt, an inclined feed table adjacent the harvester delivery, means for supporting said roller in position adjadriving means for said belt, and a geared connection therefrom to rotate said roller in either of its shifted positions.

27. In an ensilage harvester, an ensilage cutter, a conveying belt for feeding thereto, a harvesting mechanism delivering to said belt, means independent of the belt for turning stalk butts toward said cutter as delivered to said belt, and an inclined driven feed table disposed at the receiving end of said belt to feed stalk tops thereto.

28. In an ensilage harvester, an ensilage cutter, a conveying belt for feeding thereto, mechanism delivering to said belt, means independent of the belt for turning stalk butts toward said cutter as so delivered, an inclined driven feed table at the receiving end of said belt, and a driven feed roller disposed opposite said table and at one/side of said delivery. 29. In an ensilage harvester, an ensilage cutter, a conveying belt for feeding thereto, a harvesting mechanism delivering to said belt, means for turning stalk butts toward said cutter as so delivered, an inclined driven feed table at the receiving end of said belt. a driven feed roller disposed opposite said table and at one side of said delivery, means` for shifting said roller to coperate with said belt, l'and means for shifting said table into a horizontal position.

In testimony whereof I afHX my signature in the presence of two witness CARL C. GRAY.

Witnesses:

J. BURTON WELLS, E. B. SPRoUL. 

